Will a Motorcycle Accident Impact My Car Insurance?

Will a Motorcycle Accident Impact My Car Insurance?

A motorcycle accident could affect your car insurance rates. It ultimately depends on your driving history, insurance provider, and other circumstances. The insurance company may increase your premiums even if you weren’t at fault for what happened.

The Indiana Department of Insurance requires all motorists to carry insurance. If you’re concerned about navigating the post-accident claims process, consider consulting a lawyer.

A Motorcycle Accident Could Impact Your Car Insurance Rates

These variables can affect whether your insurance rates increase after a motorcycle accident:

  • Your age: According to the National Safety Council, the risk of getting into an accident decreases as one’s age increases. Insurers will take this into account when determining your insurance rates. The younger you are, the more expensive your insurance rates could be.
  • Your driving history: Insurers take speeding tickets as an indicator of unsafe driving. On average, drivers who have speeding tickets pay more than those who don’t. Luckily, these rate hikes decrease over time if you maintain a clear record.
  • How often you drive: Some insurance companies provide discounts to those who use their vehicles less frequently. With usage-based plans, insurers take a driver’s mileage into account and adjust their premiums accordingly.

Your Insurance Could Increase if You’re At Fault for an Accident

Insurers are well-versed in assigning fault. After a motorcycle accident, they typically review:

  • Police records
  • Footage or images of the accident
  • Interviews with witnesses
  • Interviews with the involved drivers

The outcomes of these investigations aren’t always positive for motorcycle policyholders. If your own insurer decides that you were responsible for the accident, your rates could increase. That’s because the insurer will assume that because you’ve caused collisions, you need more liability coverage.

Insurers don’t Always Act in Claimants’ Best Interests

Insurers aren’t always on your side after a motorcycle accident. Even if you’ve been a loyal customer for years, your insurance premiums may increase after a collision. The insurer may also limit your coverage and impose other stipulations. Insurers are businesses, after all––and they want to increase their profit margins whenever possible.

After a motorcycle accident, the insurer may:

Reduce Your Settlement by Blaming You for the Accident

Insurers sometimes take advantage of IC § 34-51-2-6, which prevents drivers from securing compensation if they were more than 50 percent responsible for an accident. To blame you for the collision, the insurer may use:

  • Your recorded statements against you
  • Evidence that suggests that you were at fault
  • Unfair negotiation tactics

Threaten to Drop You as a Policyholder

After learning about your collision, the insurer may threaten to drop you as a policyholder, making you look elsewhere for coverage. This can complicate your right to drive legally and how to pursue recovery for your losses.

Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident?

You should always consider legal representation after a motorcycle accident in Indiana. Navigating the aftermath of a collision can get complicated, and insurance companies don’t always manage claims in good faith.

When you partner with an injury lawyer, they can:

  • Fight for a fair settlement
  • Communicate with the involved insurance companies on your behalf
  • Advise you on what you should or shouldn’t say to insurers

A lawyer can offer support if your case goes to court. The State of Indiana notes that unrepresented litigants cannot ask federal employees for help – meaning that you cannot rely on the court system to make the process easier for you.

Without assistance, you could make a mistake, and mistakes in the courtroom are costly. If you don’t adhere to proper courtroom procedure, your case could be thrown out, and your insurance premiums could increase.

Why Would I Need to File a Lawsuit?

It’s easy to assume that lawsuits are commonplace. After all, they appear frequently in books, movies, and TV shows. In reality, though, they don’t occur very often, especially after motorcycle accidents. Most roadway crashes are resolved via insurance settlements.

However, sometimes lawsuits are necessary. If insurance negotiations fall through, or an insurer continues to offer you low-value settlements, a lawsuit may be your only option.

How Long do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident?

The personal injury statute of limitations is usually two years in Indiana, per IC § 34-11-2-4. This is a strict deadline; if you miss it, you won’t be able to file a lawsuit.

Lawsuits are a useful tool. Insurance companies may throw up every roadblock to compensation possible until they learn about your legal intentions. You don’t want to be without financial recovery options after an accident. You want to have every option possible to recover what you deserve.

Hire a Motorcycle Accident Attorney from Our Legal Team

Randall “Randy” Sevenish, our lead attorney, understands motorcycle accidents. He’s a motorcycle enthusiast himself, known as the Lawyer Who Rides. He and his team can evaluate your case. We’ll put your questions to rest and fight tirelessly for fair compensation. You deserve the representation of an Indiana personal injury lawyer.

Call our firm today to connect with our award-winning legal team.

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